News

Although I might do my best to feel mentally and physically prepared before a long run or race, I sometimes still have a wobble when I'm at the starting line. In an attempt to shake this self-doubt, I've tried and tested heaps of mindset tricks to help ease the nerves and keep me motivated. One of my favourites by far is using visual cues.⁣⁣These are basically visual triggers that remind me to keep going and help to maintain focus when the going gets tough. Having your own visual cue can be as simple as having a pair of colourful laces,...

I'm so excited to share with you all that VALA won the 'Rising Star' award at the Wales Start Up Awards earlier this month. We were one of 10 finalists and snagged the top spot along with our pals Suppliety, which is a brilliant food app also based in South Wales. Our award arrived today and I've held off sending this email as I wanted to take a photo with it in order to say a proper 'thank you' to you all.VALA was born out of frustration nearly three years ago when I was unable to find a 100% natural gel for my partner to...

Hey guys, I wanted to take this opportunity to say a big THANK YOU to all of our followers and customers for supporting VALA over the past few months. Thank you for supporting this start-up energy gel business with big dreams and an even bigger vision of bringing a more natural gel to the sporting community. I really appreciate each and every one of you for giving us feedback and for sharing us with your friends, colleagues, teammates and family.⁣⁣Launching a business is a wild rollercoaster ride at the best of times, without having the added challenge of navigating through...

Today marks the beginning of OCD Awareness Week, which is a cause that's very close to my heart. For years I've had 'quirky' rituals that consist of obsessive checking combined with what I now recognise as intrusive thoughts, but I thought that everyone's brain worked that way. It's well known in my family that I have to check each door multiple times before bed and that I love things to be organised properly. However, it never crossed my mind that I could have had OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder), as I'd always thought that this was reserved for 'super-clean people that wash their hands...

Here's a great HIIT exercise routine for when you're pushed for time and space. I tend to do this in my living room on rainy days (like today!) or in the back garden when I'm struggling to find the time for a long walk or run. If you're used to doing mostly cardio based exercises, try incorporating strength training into your program to promote the development of muscle mass.⁣⁣I like to stick to the usual 40:20 time split and repeat this circuit x4 for a workout that packs a punch. It’s also helpful to have dumbbells or a kettlebell to...

One of my favourite quotes from one of my favourite humans @brendanbrazier, who has been such an inspiration to me throughout VALA. Brendan is a well known vegan professional triathlete and has always been well ahead of the curve when it comes to plant-based eating. He's author of the iconic book 'THRIVE' (published in 2007) which charts his journey to adopting a more plant-based diet during his triathlon career. It’s also packed with insightful information as well as lots of simple recipes and I’d highly recommend reading it.⁣⁣It's so easy to put pressure on ourselves to try and get everything right...